Which Online Services Will Stay after the Pandemic?
2022-07-18
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1A recent public opinion study suggests a limited number of Americans are likely to continue using online services put in place during COVID-19 restrictions.
2In 2020, many daily routines went online, including schooling and office work.
3Food delivery services, online activities, teleworking, and telemedicine became more normal.
4Many services were created, reimagined, or popularized during the pandemic.
5Some services, such as online shopping and video conference calling, were in wide use before the pandemic.
6But researchers for The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research wanted to know if the new online services would remain popular.
7The study found that fewer than one in three Americans said they were very likely to use new, online services at least some of the time.
8The study found that close to half of adults in the United States said they were not likely to attend online, or virtual, activities or receive virtual health care.
9The Americans also said they were not likely to use food delivery or pickup services after the coronavirus pandemic is over.
10Close to half of those questioned said they wanted virtual options for health care, community events, exercise, or religious services to continue after the pandemic.
11Donna Hoffman is director of the Center for the Connected Consumer at George Washington School of Business.
12Hoffman said, "Rather than this either-or, I think we're likely to be facing a hybrid future."
13She said, "People have found convenience in some of these virtual options that just makes sense..."
14Hoffman added that many virtual options may have started during the pandemic.
15But they do not necessarily have anything to do with health safety. They are simply easier.
16Cornelius Hairston, a 40-year-old father, is married and his wife works on the front line of the health care field.
17So, he said his family was very careful throughout the pandemic. He said they only went out when necessary.
18Hairston said that his twin four-year-old boys are "COVID babies."
19For much of their young lives, the children did not enter a food store.
20The family used delivery services to avoid going to stores.
21But in the future, he expects to use delivery services "from time to time" or not often.
22Others say some food delivery or food pickup services are not as good as buying in-person.
23Tony DiGiovane told the AP that he felt nervous about high COVID-19 infection numbers in his home state of Arizona.
24So, the 71-year-old used food delivery services. He found them to be troublesome.
25"By the time I picked up the stuff," he said, "I needed more stuff."
26He added that there was always something "missing or wrong" on pickup or takeout orders.
27For Angie Lowe, a 48-year old woman from the state of Illinois, telemedicine was convenient.
28Her first telemedicine appointment was early in the pandemic.
29She was able to talk with a doctor without missing work or driving to a medical center.
30Lowe said, "It was my first telemedicine appointment, but it won't be my last. If I can do it, I'm going to do it."
31She and her husband returned to doing things in public more than a year ago, but she continues to use telemedicine.
32Sixty-three-year-old Karen Stewart understands that video calls are useful.
33She also sees some of her doctors online and likes that she does not have to drive to her appointments.
34However, she said it was "scary" when all of her appointments before a medical operation were online.
35She wanted more "hands on" care.
36Stewart added, there are "things that a doctor might pick up on that they can't see online."
37The pandemic created a chance to balance in-person and virtual services to support the physical and mental health of older adults, said Alycia Bayne. She is a researcher at NORC.
38Bayne said telemedicine could help people who have difficulty traveling, who do not live near a medical center, or who live alone.
39But technology has limits.
40Bayne said technological difficulties may explain why the public opinion study found that older adults are less likely to use digital services after the pandemic.
41She noted, however, that the AP-NORC study also found similar percentages of adults across all ages saying virtual options should continue after the pandemic.
42"They recognize the benefits of virtual services," she said.
43"But they're also ready to start getting back to their pre-pandemic routines."
44Bayne added the new services are an added benefit for people needing them:
45"The silver lining, of course, is that these services are now available."
46I'm Anna Matteo.
1A recent public opinion study suggests a limited number of Americans are likely to continue using online services put in place during COVID-19 restrictions. 2In 2020, many daily routines went online, including schooling and office work. Food delivery services, online activities, teleworking, and telemedicine became more normal. Many services were created, reimagined, or popularized during the pandemic. Some services, such as online shopping and video conference calling, were in wide use before the pandemic. 3But researchers for The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research wanted to know if the new online services would remain popular. 4The study found that fewer than one in three Americans said they were very likely to use new, online services at least some of the time. 5The study found that close to half of adults in the United States said they were not likely to attend online, or virtual, activities or receive virtual health care. The Americans also said they were not likely to use food delivery or pickup services after the coronavirus pandemic is over. 6Close to half of those questioned said they wanted virtual options for health care, community events, exercise, or religious services to continue after the pandemic. 7Donna Hoffman is director of the Center for the Connected Consumer at George Washington School of Business. Hoffman said, "Rather than this either-or, I think we're likely to be facing a hybrid future." 8She said, "People have found convenience in some of these virtual options that just makes sense..." 9Hoffman added that many virtual options may have started during the pandemic. But they do not necessarily have anything to do with health safety. They are simply easier. 10Food delivery services 11Cornelius Hairston, a 40-year-old father, is married and his wife works on the front line of the health care field. So, he said his family was very careful throughout the pandemic. He said they only went out when necessary. 12Hairston said that his twin four-year-old boys are "COVID babies." For much of their young lives, the children did not enter a food store. The family used delivery services to avoid going to stores. But in the future, he expects to use delivery services "from time to time" or not often. 13Others say some food delivery or food pickup services are not as good as buying in-person. 14Tony DiGiovane told the AP that he felt nervous about high COVID-19 infection numbers in his home state of Arizona. So, the 71-year-old used food delivery services. He found them to be troublesome. 15"By the time I picked up the stuff," he said, "I needed more stuff." He added that there was always something "missing or wrong" on pickup or takeout orders. 16Online healthcare 17For Angie Lowe, a 48-year old woman from the state of Illinois, telemedicine was convenient. Her first telemedicine appointment was early in the pandemic. She was able to talk with a doctor without missing work or driving to a medical center. 18Lowe said, "It was my first telemedicine appointment, but it won't be my last. If I can do it, I'm going to do it." She and her husband returned to doing things in public more than a year ago, but she continues to use telemedicine. 19Sixty-three-year-old Karen Stewart understands that video calls are useful. She also sees some of her doctors online and likes that she does not have to drive to her appointments. 20However, she said it was "scary" when all of her appointments before a medical operation were online. She wanted more "hands on" care. Stewart added, there are "things that a doctor might pick up on that they can't see online." 21The pandemic created a chance to balance in-person and virtual services to support the physical and mental health of older adults, said Alycia Bayne. She is a researcher at NORC. 22Bayne said telemedicine could help people who have difficulty traveling, who do not live near a medical center, or who live alone. 23But technology has limits. Bayne said technological difficulties may explain why the public opinion study found that older adults are less likely to use digital services after the pandemic. 24She noted, however, that the AP-NORC study also found similar percentages of adults across all ages saying virtual options should continue after the pandemic. 25"They recognize the benefits of virtual services," she said. "But they're also ready to start getting back to their pre-pandemic routines." Bayne added the new services are an added benefit for people needing them: "The silver lining, of course, is that these services are now available." 26I'm Anna Matteo. 27Hannah Fingerhut and R.J. Rico reported this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. 28____________________________________________________________________ 29Words in This Story 30routine -n. a regular way of doing things in a particular order 31delivery -n. the act of taking something to a person or place 32option -n. something that can be chosen; a choice or possibility 33hybrid -n. the combination of two or more things 34convenience -n. a quality or situation that makes something easy or useful for someone by reducing the amount of work or time required to do something : convenient -adj. 35stuff -n. materials, supplies or equipment 36appointment -n. an agreement to meet with someone at a particular time 37benefit -n. a good or helpful result or effect 38silver lining -idiom something good that can be found in a bad situation 39__________________________________________________________________ 40Have you used an online service during the COVID-19 pandemic? 41We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 42Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.